JessicaTabby!? What kind of name is that? I feel like I should meow at her. Worst of all, she is all over Damon like a damn cat in heat!I don’t know what is wrong with me, but I don’t like it! It’s not like he is mine, but there is something here! Jessica! What are you thinking? He is your new boss and looks at you like a charity case! No, No, No! I scold myself, but as I watch Tabby *eye-roll” run her fingers down his bulging bicep, something snaps inside me.“Damon, are you coming?” I call to him, and Julie glances at me, a look of amusement on her face. Crap- if she can see it, Dr. Prowl and Damon will be able to as well. Keep it cool, Jessica.“Yeah, I’m coming, Jessica. Let’s get the groceries unpacked before they melt.” He says, but he grabs Tabby’s hand momentarily, and my heart sinks.Why would I assume that she wasn’t his girlfriend? Obviously, she is. I sigh, and Julie opens the hospital door, but Damon is right behind us. He pushes by us and looks down the hallway- I as
DamonI sigh as I unlock my car and look around at this shitty apartment complex that Jessica and her siblings live in. It isn’t the worst in the city, but it also isn’t the best. The paint is peeling from the side of the building and is cracked with splinters. The inside is the same. The hallway carpets are stained and gross with God knows what. There aren’t any elevators, only stairs and they live on the top floor and the list goes on. The house they lived in before was a few blocks away in one of the nicest suburbs in this town- I know each one of them is feeling this downgrade. Especially Jessica: I noticed all her stuff was in the living room. She doesn’t even have a bedroom. I can tell she feels like she’s failing but I can’t believe how resilient she is. She took on two younger children and gave up on her dreams; I admire her.I get inside my car and grab my cell phone from the center console. There are 10 missed calls and I smirk reading each text message Mikey has left me.“
JessicaI pull my sweatshirt over my black camisole in this tiny bathroom and look down at the matching sweatpants I wear and sigh- I was told to wear something comfortable to work, but I will not be staying in this; I will be given my sexy uniform tonight. Sexy…That word haunts me. I have never been sexy.I turn around and face the closed bathroom door, grabbing my makeup from the space saver that hangs on the back of the door, and a memory flashes across my mind. One when I was seven and I was in my mother’s room. I had sat at her vanity, and I had begun playing with her makeup when she caught me. I thought she would be angry but it’s one of my most precious memories of her. One I keep close to my heart now that she’s gone.“Here, let me help you,” My mother’s voice echoes as I stare into the mirror. “Jessica, you have natural beauty, you don’t need much.” She says, grabbing a makeup remover wipe and wiping my face full of the bright blue eyeshadow that I had put all over my eyeli
DamonThis place is already packed, and the lawyers are already at the table, wasted, horny, and hitting on all my girls. They said they had taken a party bus here, and that’s apparent. I’m pretty sure they have been on that bus ALL day with how drunk they are and how they are acting. “Damn, Damon,” Mindy grimaces as she walks past me. “They were wasted before they even got here, and the tall blonde one keeps grabbing Chi-Chi’s ass.”I nod and stand taller as I look at the table, they may be a huge client, but they will not disrespect my girls. I walk to the table with a stern look on my face, “How is everything?” I ask, placing charm but yet, making sure they know I am the boss.“It’s great. Are you the owner?” One asks me with slurred words. He’s tall and blonde, so I assume this is the ass-grabber. “Good, and yes, I am, but I want to remind you all of one rule, though: DON’T TOUCH MY GIRLS. Unless they invite you to. Do you understand?” I say, my eyes meet each one of theirs, and
JessicaThe streetlights illuminate the road, and I look ahead. This is awkward, but I need this job, and Mike is also my boss, so I am not sure what to say, so I reach into my purse and grab my favorite cheap perfume, spraying it lightly around myself.I watch Mike inhale the scent while a small smile creeps on his lips, but he says nothing. He then clears his throat. “So, having your siblings…how is that going?” Mike’s question catches me off guard, but I think it’s sweet that he cares. I play with the fabric of my sweater pocket as I glance at him.“It’s hard,” I admit. “I never knew if I even wanted to have children. Honestly, I was focused on school all my life,” I laugh, looking at Mike, “But you know that. I am much older than both of them. We didn’t have a tight-knit relationship before this all happened.”Mike sighs, “I really am sorry, Jessica. I know this is probably not the life you wanted. What was college like? I always wanted to go.”His confession surprises me, and I l
DamonI move quickly, scrambling to get out of my office to stop the commotion. Jessica is frozen like a statue; everyone is. The look of shock resonates on every face in this club, and I need to remind them of who I am.I rush toward the table; Mindy stutters as she speaks, “She’s n-n-new. She didn’t mean it, did you, Cherry?” She asked Jessica. Jessica has tears in her eyes as she begins to speak, but I cut her off.“You were told NOT to touch the girls!” My voice almost comes out in a roar, and the entire club now focuses on me. Jessica’s face turns to sheer panic as I discipline these lawyers, but they are too drunk to try to argue.“But that’s why we are here, to touch. I guess I will need to get my firm involved,” the tall blonde slurs his words, but I shake my head.“See that camera,” I say pointing ahead, “I have all of this on video, and I have a tech guy who can zone in on the table voice media. Cherry here had every right to smack you since you wouldn’t stop sexually harass
JessicaI watch how Damon handles the customers, and my heart is racing, not because he’s defending my actions but because I know I am definitely fired. Most of the lawyers are looking at him seriously, but the tall drunk blonde that has caused most of the issues tonight is trying to argue.“Oh! So, I guess I’ll get my firm on this!” he threatens, and I watch a smile creep on Damon’s face. I see he likes a challenge, but I can also see he doesn’t lose. His eyes flicker as he looks around the table; I know he won’t back down. Mike walks over now, and my heart flutters! He asked me out tonight, and I said yes, but then I feel panic; what if he is mad at me too!? Did I just screw everything up with him?Mike tells the lawyers to leave, and the tall blonde gets up, glaring at me as he throws shot glasses down on the table. I grab Mike’s arm and he stands close to me, making sure none of them retaliate against me. His cologne is more pungent, and I inhale as I swoon over him. It wasn’t t
DamonI yawn as I walk through the club, turning off all the lights. Tonight was pretty intense, but it’s not the worst one we have had. I get to the end of the hallway and stop as my cell phone rings; I look at the caller ID and sigh as I see Mikey’s name pop up. “Hey, Man. Is everything okay? Did you get Jessica home okay?” I ask in a hurry. I am curious if anything happened, and I know he knows. Silence.“Mikey, are you there?”“Yeah, I got her home,” he pauses, “And before three AM.” He adds. I smile- knowing he is telling me this, so I know nothing physical happened. Mikey is a good friend, but I also know Jessica isn’t that kind of girl.“Are you headed home now?” I ask casually, not to give my jealousy away.“Yeah, and you?” he asks.I flip the last switch off and reach into my pocket, grabbing my keys, “Yeah, I’m headed home too. Tabby is waiting for me,” I say mischievously, but I have already texted her, telling her to go home.It just doesn’t feel right. Not anymore.“Per